This will of Theophilus Alexander was contributed by David Moore, who transcribed it. A written copy can be found in the archives of Cecil County, MD.
I, Theophilus Alexander of Ceacil County in Maryland, black Smith, being of sound mind & memory, blessed be God, but calling to mind my mortal state, so do make & ordain this my last will and testament. Viz. I recommende my soul to God & my body to ye. Earth to be buried at ye. discretion of my Excrs. & as touching my worldly state I give, devise & dispose of ye. same in ye. following manner & form:
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my wife Catharine ye. sum of one hundred and twenty pounds, my bed and beding and her mare & saddle
Item: I give & bequeath unto my son Joseph Alexander my lands in North Carolina & ye. sum of twenty pounds
Item: I give & bequeath unto my daughter Margart Cannon the sum of ten pounds
Item: I give & bequeath unto my daughter Sophia Sharp the sum of seven pounds
Item: I give & bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Hosia [Kezia] ye. sum of sixty-five pounds
Item: I give & bequeath unto my son George Alexander his Heirs & assigns all that plantation whereon I live as ye. same hath & still doth stand willed to me by my father, James Alexander, he ye. said George paying to ye. sum of one hundred fifty pounds pensilvania money when it shall become due to ye. said estate by a bond date ye [blank space] day of this instant under my hand and bal. for that sum
Item: I give & bequeath unto my daguther [sic] Catrine ye. sum of sixty-five pounds
It is farther my will that all ye. remainder of my estate after my just and lawfull Debts is paid be equally divided between my daughters Margret Cannon, Sophia Sharp, Ann Cannon, Kezia Alexander, Catrine Alexander & my son George Alexander & I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife Catherine, my trusty brother Amos Alexander & my son George Alexander my only & sole executors of this my last will & testament, utterly revoking all former wills & testaments, gifts & legacies, ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testament . . . .
Witnesses: Robert Willson John Robison John Alexander John Sharpe
David Moore's notes on Theophilus's will:
1) punctuation has been modernized but the original spelling has been retained
2) this will is said to have been drawn up on February 28, 1768, (about six months before Theophilus died),
and proven [probated] on August 19, 1768 by three of the four witnesses, Robison, Alexander and Sharpe
3) an interesting fact is that both Theophilus and his father James owned land in North Carolina, though
they never took up residence there
4) three of the girls were already married by 1768; Kezia and Catherine seem to have married after the move, though their spouses were originally Pennsylvania boys